In 2025, Herriman High’s Jackson Spencer became the name every prep distance fan had to know. The Utah standout, who is headed to BYU next year, opened his season with a victory at the Simplot Games 3200m (8:56.03), then surged into spring with a breakthrough 8:51.26 at the Arcadia Invitational. His momentum carried into June, where he unleashed a 4:02.56 mile and 3:46.22 1500m at the HOKA Festival of Miles, performances that placed him among the fastest prep milers in the country. Just weeks later, he anchored Herriman High’s 4x800-meter relay to a national high school record of 7:26.12 at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. By October, Spencer had proven his range extended well beyond the track. At the ASICS Clovis Invitational, he shattered the storied Woodward Park course record with a 14:16.9. Balancing excellence with humility, the 2025 Gatorade Utah Boys Track & Field Player of the Year embodies both athletic drive and academic focus. His progression—from indoor champion to outdoor record-setter to cross country course dominator—reflects rare versatility and discipline. As he looks beyond Herriman, Spencer’s times and trajectory point toward a seamless leap to the collegiate ranks. Whether chasing sub-four on the track or new records on the roads, his next chapter promises to include lots of record-chasing performances. Tap into the Jackson Spencer Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz
